Cutter chain



L. E. SIMMONS Nov. 20, 1951 CUTTER CHAIN Filed March 17, 1948 151/0877, for: leon/Ezs'unmand.

Patented Nov. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTER CHAIN Leon E. Simmons, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 17, 1948, Serial No. 8,949

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cutter chains and more particularly to an improved cutter bit supporting and securing means for a mining machine cutter chain.

In cutter chains used for mining purposes, for cutting coal or other minerals, the cutter bits or the bit holders, when small reversible cutter bits are employed, are received in sockets in the blocks of the cutter chain, and the cutter bits or bit holdersare secured in the block-sockets by set screws threaded in the blocks and engaging the bits or holders. The set screws often become loosened during operation of the cutter chain, and it is necessary to so tighten the set screws that they bite into the metal of the shanks of the bits or holders, ofttimes damaging the bits or holders as a result of repeated loosening and tightening of the screws. It has also been found that when cutter bits or bit holders have shanks of relatively hard metal, the set screws do not adequately grip the shanks so that frequent release of the bits or holders occurs. It is within the contemplation of the present invention, from a broad aspect, to provide improved bit supporting and securing means for a mining machine cutter chain wherein the cutter bits or hit holders are positively locked in position on the chain blocks by interengagement with releasable looking means which may be repeatedly locked and unlocked without damaging the shanks of the cutter bits or bit holders.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cutter chain. Another object is to provide improved supporting and securing means for the cutting elements of a mining machine cutter chain. A further object is to provide an improved rotary lock arranged longitudinally of a chain block for looking a cutter bit or hit holder in position on the block lug. Yet another object is to provide an improved rotary lock of the bayonet-type for positively looking a cutter bit or bit-holder in position on a chain block. Another object is to provide an improved rotary securing element of the eccentric type engageable with the shank of a cutter bit or bit holder for imparting an inward thrust to the bit or-holder to clamp the latter in position on a chain block with a camming action. Yet another object is to provide an improved rotary lock which not only grips the shank Of the cutter bit or hit holder at longitudinally spaced points but also imparts a thrust in an inward direction to the bit or holder to clamp the latter firmly in position on the block. A further object is to provide improved rotary lock of the wedge type for a cutter bit or bit holder. A still further object is to provide a rotary lock arranged longitudinally of a chain block for imparting with a camming action an inward thrust or clamping pressure to the bit or bit holder. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown for purposes of illustration one form and two modifications which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, partially in sid elevation and partially in central longitudinal vertical section, taken through a cutter chain constructed in accordance with a preferred i1- lustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l, with the outermost cutter bits or bit holders shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the chain block.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the cutter bit or bit holder.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved rotary locking element.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, showing the bit or holderlocked in position on the chain block lug.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 7-'| of Fig. 6, showing the wedge lock.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. ,6, showing a modified form of rotary lock.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified construction, showing a small reversible, double pointed cutter bit mounted in the bit holder.

In this illustrative construction, as disclosed in the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a fragment of a cutter chain which includes chain blocks l pivotally connected to strap links 2 by hinge pins 3. The hinge pins are arranged in transverse bores 4 in the blocks and strap links and are positively locked to the blocks by bent wire locking elements 5 passing through axial openings 6 in the pins and having their bent ends engaged in slots 1 and B respectively in the pins and blocks. The blocks have, at their bases, usual lateral gibs 9 adapted to run in the guideways of a conventional mining machine cutter bar.

The chain blocks l are preferably in the form of fiat stampings which are suitably heated and bent over a suitable form into the desired shape, and each has parallel side portions it], It which carry the gibs 9 and a semi-circular outer lug portion ll. The semi-circular lug portion has a semi-circular inner surface [2, and the parallel side portions Hi have plane inner surfaces i3, it which join with the surface 12 in the manner shown. The strap links 2 extend between the eating with the tooth-receiving spaces M are openings 15 for discharging dirt or coal dust from the tooth-receiving spaces. The curved outer lugs H of the blocks have longitudinal siotlike openings i6.

The improved rotary lock is generally designated I8 and, when in operative position on the chain block, is arranged lengthwise of the chain block, as shown in Fig. l. The rotary 'lock has a cylindric body it fitting up against the curved inner surface {2 of the block lug and formed with an axial bore throughout the portion of its length. The solid front portion of the lock body has a polygonal portion 21 adapted for engagement by a suitable turning instrument, such as a wrench. The hollow portion of the lock body has a longitudinal slotlike opening 22 corresponding in size and shape to the opening it in the chain block lug, and when the openings 16 and 22 are in registry, the shank or inner portion of a cutting element, herein a cutter bit or bit holder, generally designated 23, may be inserted through the'openings, with the inner shank portion projecting within the bore 263 of the lock body.

Now referring to the improved cutter bit or bit holder 23, it will be noted that the holder has a body 24 formed with an inner shank portion 25 tially corresponding to the radii of curvature of the inner'and outer cylindrical surfaces of the lock body !9 but providing slight clearances. The

body of the cutter bit or hit holder is formed, at

its outer tip portion, with'a socket-23 for receiving a cutting element 29, which may be either in the form of a hard metal insert or a small, detachable; double pointed cutter .bit, in a well known manner. In this instance, the socketll is in the formgof a transverse slot in the outer Extending laterally through the sides Ill of the blocks and communitip end of the holder body, and permanently serecess 33 communicating with the opening 22,

in the manner shown most clearly in Fig. 5, for receiving the shank portion 25' when the rotary lock is turned about its longitudinal axis. T

no end walls 3d of the recess 3e are inenned inwardly'or tapered, in the manner shown, so that when the shank portion of the bit or holder is in tion in the block lug, and the rotary lock is turned to bring the opening 22 out of registry with the lug opening [6 with the shank portion received in the recess 33, and with the end portions 35 of the lock received in the slots 21in the holder shank in the manner shown in Fig. 6, and

as the rotary lock is turned tightly into position, the inclined or tapered sides 34 grip the shank portion 25 at the bottoms of the slots 27, firmly to secure the bit or holder portion in position in the block lug with a wedging action, in the manner shown most clearly in Fig. 7.

The slotlike openings 16 in the block lugs ll may be arranged in different angularly related positions on difierent blocks, thereby to locate the cutter bits or bit holders in relatively inclined positions to provide for proper lacing of the bits in a-well known manner. The two outermost bit positions are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and it will be understood that there are intermediate positions of the bits between the central full line position in Fig. 2 and these outermost dotted line positions. In Fig. 8, a modified form of rotary lock is closed having an eccentric camming action, which may supplant or supplement the wedging action of the rotary lock of the preferred embodiment. In this construction, a rotary lock, generallydes-i ignated 35, is arranged with respect to the block lug in the same manner as the rotary lockiabove described. In this instance, however, the body 31 of the rotary lock is formed with a longitudinal bore 3!; which has its axis eccentricallyzdisposed V with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rotary lock. The hollow portion of the lock body has a longitudinal slotlike opening 3% correspond-- ing in shape and size to the opening it .on'the lock lug and aicornrnunicating lateral recess 40 corresponding to the recess 33, and, inthis construction, the inclined or tapered end walls-of the lateral locking recess of the preferred embodiment ma be omitted, if desired. When the cutter. bit or hit holder 23 is placed against the block lug, in the position shown in Fig. 8, with the rectangular shank portion 25 inserted through the registering openings to and 39, the rotary lock may be turned about its longitudinal axis tomove the opening 39 'out of registry with the locking opening it, with the shank'porti'on received in the recess 30, and to move the walls of the eccentric bore 38 into engagement with the inner or lower walls of the slots 21, therebyto impart an inward thrust or clamping pressure to the bit or holder to clamp the latter firmly against the block lug. v

It will thus be seen that in-bothembodiments theshank of the cutting element, such'as the cutter bitor bit holder, may be inserted through the registering'openings in the block lug and rotary lock, and by a Simple rotation ofthe rotary locking element about its longitudinal axis,

the bit or holder shank may be positively in'terlocked with the rotary lock, firmly to'secure the bit or holder in cutting position on the block. Also, likewise by a simple rotary motion, the locking element may be turned to bringthe openfing therein back into registry with the lug opening to permit release of the bit or holderfrom theblocklug. In the embodiments disclosed, the

cutter bit or bit holder may be positively'locked in position on the blocking either with .a rotary wedging action or a rotaryicammingflactiori'and. if desired, th rotary camming action may" supf-j plement the rotary wedging action. Q'IheQimf-J proved rotary lock may be readily turnedinto' either its locking or released positionsjby econventional set screw'wrench. For reversecuttingi tions of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be further modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cutter chain, the combination comprising a chain block having a lateral lug formed with an opening, a cutting element having a shank receivable in said lug-opening, said shank having an enlargement at its inner end providing an outwardly facing surface, and a rotary cam lock mounted on said block, said lock having a cylindrical tubular portion one wall of which is slotted longitudinally to provide an opening whereby said shank enlargement may be inserted into the bore of said tubular portion, and said lock having a cam surface engaging said outwardly facing surface of said shank enlargement for forcing said shank inwardly in said lug-opening to clamp said cutting element against said block-lug.

2. In a cutter chain, the combination comprising a chain block having a lateral lug formed with an opening, a cutting element having a shank receivable in said lug-opening, said shank having transverse recesses at its opposite end surfaces with the inner walls of said recesses facing outwardly, and a rotary cam lock mounted on said block and having a cylindrical tubular portion, one wall of said tubular portion having a longitudinal slot whereby the inner portion of said shank may be inserted into the bore of said tubular portion, said tubular portion having a lateral recess communicating with said slot for receiving an inner portion of said shank when said cam lock is rotated, and said cam lock having cam surfaces at the ends of said lateral recess engaging said outwardly facing walls for forcing said shank inwardly in said lug-opening when said lock is rotated to clamp said cutting element inwardly against said block-lug.

3. In a cutter chain, the combination comprising a chain block having a lateral lug formed with a socket at right angles to the longitudinal axis ,of the block, a cutter support having a shoulder engageable with the outer surface of said lug 5 and a shank receivable in said socket, said lug having a longitudinal bore traversing said socket, said shank having notches in its end surfaces near the inner end of said shank, and a rotary lock mounted in said longitudinal lug bore and provided with a tubular portion having a longitudinal slot in one wall thereof and a lateral communicating recess, said tube-slot receiving the inner end of said shank and said lock being rotatable about its longitudinal axis in said lug-bore to bring portions of said tubular portion at the end of said recess into said shank-notches to lock said shank on the block with said shoulder resting against said block-lug, and said lateral recess receiving an inner portion of said shank when said lock is so rotated.

4. In a cutter chain, the combination comprising a chain block having a lateral lug formed with a socket at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the block, a cutter support having a shoulder engageable with the outer surface of said lug and a shank receivable in said socket, said lug having a longitudinal bore traversing said socket, said shank having notches in its end surfaces near the inner end of said shank, and a rotary lock mounted in said longitudinal lug bore and provided with a tubular portion having a longitudinal slot in one wall thereof and a lateral communicating recess, said tube-slot receiving the inner end of said shank and said lock being rotatable about its longitudinal axis in said bore to bring portions of said tubular portion at the ends of said recess into said shank-notches to lock said shank on the block, said lateral recess receiving an inner portion of said shank when said lock is so rotated, and said lock at the ends of said recess having cam surfaces engaging the inner walls of said notche for forcing said shank inwardly in said socket to clamp said shoulder against the outer surface of said lug.

5. In a cutter chain, the combination comprising a chain block having a lateral lug formed with an opening, a cutting element having a shank receivable in said lug opening, said shank having a portion at its inner end providing an outwardly facing surface, and a rotary cam lock mounted on said block and having a cylindrical tubular portion provided with a bore having a surface formed eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of said lock, the inner portion of said shank being receivable in said lock-bore and said eccentric surface, upon rotation of said lock, engaging said outwardly facing shank surface to apply an inward thrust to said shank to clamp said cutting element against said lug.

LEON E. SIMMONS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

